Chpt 1: Iwaizumi- The Reliable Father Figure AKA Is it too much to ask for a normal year?
Aoba Johsai was many things: they were represented as plants, they had a fairly strong chess club, and their academics were competitive. From the outside it seemed like a fairly normal high school. Of course, from the outside, you wouldn't be a part of the boys volleyball club. Iwaizumi Hajime, vice-captain of said club, had always seen the team as a dynamic family- a group of players, strong in their own right, but brought together they could take on anyone. Each player had their own personality, goals, and skills, but with Oikawa's trust and guidance they worked as a unit. Although, they weren't always as polished as they looked on the courts. In fact, as Iwaizumi looked across the court, he was starting to wonder how the boys volleyball club could be described as anything other than chaotic.
How Oikawa managed to whip any of them into shape to beat everyone except Shiratorizawa was honestly beyond Iwaizumi, especially when said captain was teasing his younger classmen. Watari was showing Kunimi what looked like a dance move, with no apparent music. That was odd. Behind him, Yahaba Shigeru and Kyotani Kentarō looked as if they were about to start a physical brawl. Matsukawa was watching the potential fight as he sipped his water bottle lazily. The only thing he was missing was popcorn and Iwaizumi wouldn't have been surprised if Hanamaki appeared with some in hand at any moment. No one was cleaning up the way they ought to in order to go home on time. Iwaizumi's stomach growled in protest as he took in the surroundings.
"Let's go," he called, voice echoing around the gym.
All eyes turned to him: the first years seemed unsure about his tone (well, Kindaichi looked scared shitless, but he'd apologize later). The second years looked at him respectfully and attentively. The third years (those heathen) had matching smiles pulling across their faces. He clapped his hands and decided to address the youth instead, since he still had hope for their futures.
"We have to head home for dinner, homework, and rest, so start cleaning up!"
"Yeah, clean up," echoed Hanamaki.
Iwaizumi turned his eyes on the pink haired devil. "You too, Hanamaki."
"I'm a third year," Hanamaki said. "I've done my time."
"So much time," Matsukawa agreed solemnly.
"Well, you're going to do more. Go pick up the stray balls so we can leave."
"He knows you so well," Matsukawa smirked.
Hanamaki scowled, grabbing onto Matsukawa's shoulder to drag him under the net to assist.
"And you," Iwaizumi scowled, turning to the beaming and innocent Oikawa Tooru. "You're supposed to be setting an example!"
"I'm setting the best example, Iwa-chan," Oikawa replied. "I'm building comradery. How do you think all this works?"
He held his arms out to the courts as if showing Iwaizumi a regal kingdom full of well trained and respectable knights, instead of a bunch of sweaty and tired teenagers just doing their best.
"Start cleaning or I'll volunteer to open the gym for the rest of the month."
"I don't see how that effects me."
"I'll drag you with me to help."
"But that's Yahaba's job," Oikawa whined. "And we'd have to wake up even earlier!"
"You can't whine," Iwaizumi reminded him. "You're the captain. Captains don't whine."
"Captain's don't clean either," Oikawa muttered, but he headed towards the closet with the mop anyway.
"Bring me one as well," Iwaizumi called. Oikawa waved his hand over his shoulder half-heartedly. He returned with the mops a moment later, pout still on his face even as Iwaizumi rewarded him with a nod and slight smile.
"Oikawa. I need a word," the coach said from the doorway. "Iwaizumi, come as well."
Oikawa shoved both mops into Watari's arms. "Coach needs me for important business! Guess I can't stay and clean!"
"Iwaizumi," Hanamaki replied lazily. "Get your boyfriend in line."
Oikawa drifted his arm around Iwaizumi's back, his fingers taking an unnecessarily long time to cross from one shoulder to the other before settling there. The movement sent a shiver down Iwaizumi's back and a flush of heat up his neck. When he replied to Hanamaki (accompanied by a wink), the breath from his speech blew against Iwaizumi's ear, making them flush as well. "Iwa-chan likes me just the way I am."
"Gross," Matsukawa observed, tossing some spare balls into the cart.
Iwaizumi pushed the setter off of his shoulder. "Knock it off, Shittykawa. The coach called us."
Oikawa didn't appear to have an ounce of regret as he practically skipped ahead towards the door the coach had disappeared through. They knew where to go even without the coach. Whenever they needed to discuss something after practice, they always met in the staff lounge.
Iwaizumi followed a safe distance away. Dark hallways were always a dangerous place to be with Oikawa, especially since his confession, which Iwaizumi only managed to regret about twenty-five percent of the time. As if he were summoned by Iwaizumi's straying thoughts, Oikawa reappeared next to him, his long fingers finding Iwaizumi's and intertwining. Iwaizumi glanced around to make sure they were alone.
"You know I wouldn't hold your hand if there were anyone other than Matsun and Makki around," Oikawa muttered. "I know you don't like that."
Iwaizumi glanced at the setter. His brown hair was more windswept than usual due to their rigorous practice and Iwaizumi could still see a few beads of sweat on his forehead. He was bent slightly forward, almost shyly, his brown eyes tracing the floor a few steps ahead of them as they moved, not meeting Iwaizumi's eyes. Despite knowing Oikawa for almost his whole life and knowing almost every side of him, this side was new to Iwaizumi. It was nothing like the flirtatious smiles and winks to fangirls in the hallway, nor the confident victory signs or large waving gestures of his social media selfies, usually accompanied by broad smiles or a wink. It certainly wasn't the teasing Oikawa who taunted his friends with his tongue sticking out, smiling and closing one eye. This Oikawa was bashful and unsure and he was as foreign to Iwaizumi as it could get.
And cute, thought Iwaizumi, not that he'd share that with the setter quite yet. That would be the fastest way to make shy Oikawa disappear.
This was an Oikawa that had only appeared when he pulled Iwaizumi to the side at the end of last year, bowing deeply as he apologized profusely for any inconvenience his feelings might pose to his best friend. He hoped it wouldn't change anything between them, but he couldn't keep them to himself any longer. He'd turned away then, face ducked away in embarrassment as he left for the bus, finding a seat next to one of the graduating third years instead of his usual one next to Iwaizumi. It had been awkward for about a week until Iwaizumi managed to climb into Oikawa's room, flicking him on the forehead to scold him for running away after confessing without even waiting for Iwaizumi's answer.
"I know your answer, Hajime," Oikawa said, spinning the volleyball carefully, eyes stuck on the blue and yellow flashes. "It's okay."
"If you know, then why are you avoiding me," Iwaizumi replied. "You shouldn't neglect your partner's feelings. I thought you knew that from all those shitty Korean Dramas you watch." Oikawa had looked up then, dropping the volleyball in surprise, to meet Iwaizumi's set scowl.
"You feel the same?" Oikawa's hands fell instinctively to the hem of his shirt, toying with it. "Why didn't you say so?"
"I've been trying to tell you all week," Iwaizumi snapped. He ruffled Oikawa's perfect soft hair, making the setter squawk as he tried to push his hands away before he turned it into a brown bird's nest. "Now go out with me to ramen. I'll buy."
"Like a date?"
"As in a date, Idiotkawa."
That had been a few months ago now.
"Iwa-chan? Are you ready?"
Oikawa's voice brought Iwaizumi out of his thoughts and he blinked, surprised to find they were standing in front of the door to the teachers lounge. His hand feeling abnormally cold now that Oikawa had slipped his hand away to grab the door knob. He nodded, watching as the bashful Oikawa he had just been reminiscing about changed into the confident Captain of the Seijoh volleyball team, his shoulders rolling back and a half smile pulling across his face. It was equally as attractive, but Iwaizumi kept that to himself as they moved to the seats the coach motioned to.
"The team is looking great so far, and that is due to your consistency and leadership," the coach said. Oikawa's smile expanded into something with genuine pride in it.
"Thank you," they both said.
"Since our practice match with Karasuno, you've managed to take the lessons we learned and use them to create strategies and improvement plans. I think we truly have a chance to compete in Nationals this year."
"I agree," Oikawa nodded, eyes shining as they quickly darted to Iwaizumi. He nodded and the setter's smile grew even larger, if that was possible.
"Now we have another opportunity to continue our growth forward. I learned today that Kageyama Tobio will be transferring to Aoba Johsai next week. I would like you both to personally welcome and recruit him to join the club."
Iwaizumi Hajime considered himself a good person. He helped his classmates with work when they missed school due to sickness, he never led anyone on by accepting affection or gifts he didn't reciprocate, he always did his chores and never talked back to his parents. Despite all these shining accomplishments, it seemed that fate wanted to ruin his otherwise ideal third year. It wasn't that Iwaizumi had anything against Kageyama, he was a good setter and a generally nice kid (although he lacked some basic social skills). However, he also knew how Oikawa felt about Kageyama. He'd witnessed the slow downward spiral of his best friend in middle school when Kageyama, the resident genius, had replaced him in even just a few games. The late practices, the harsh insults, the overwork that nearly ruined Oikawa's knee.
Maybe fate wasn't after him, Iwaizumi considered, letting his eyes flicker over to his Captain. Maybe it was all of Oikawa's bad karma and Iwaizumi was just caught in the wave of it? The third year in question looked uncharacteristically shell-shocked. It was unusual for him to allow his facial expressions to lose control, especially in front of the coach. The fact that he'd been sitting there like a gasping fish for almost a full thirty seconds was enough to show how shaken Oikawa was by the news. The expression produced an uncomfortable feeling in Iwaizumi's chest. He could practically see Oikawa's mind running through his middle school years again.
"C-can you repeat that please," Oikawa managed to say.
"Kageyama Tobio is transferring to Aoba Johsai," the coach repeated. "And I want you to recruit him to join the volleyball club once he does."
Iwaizumi watched as Oikawa allowed his hair to cover his face, this time managing to keep his expression neutral, even as Iwaizumi knew he was anything but.
"It's so late in the year," Oikawa offered. "Won't his academics suffer to transfer here?"
If Iwaizumi was anyone else, he would have been fooled into thinking that Oikawa was actually concerned for the first year, but Iwaizumi had known Oikawa for too long. He could see the movement of Oikawa's hands as they grasped his gym shorts, the way the muscle on his jaw clenched and unclenched. It made him want to reach out and take Oikawa's hand in his own in order to remind him that he wasn't alone. He'd never been alone. Since the coach was watching, he settled with dragging his eyes back to the adult.
"I thought he seemed happy at Karasuno," Iwaizumi said, pulling the attention away from Oikawa to give him time to recover.
The coach shrugged. "There wasn't any explanation given for his transfer, but I doubt it will affect his desire to play volleyball. If we can get him on the team, then we'll have an even stronger lineup."
"You want him on the starting line up," Oikawa asked, head snapping up.
"Maybe not this year," the coach offered with a shrug. Iwaizumi clenched his teeth in annoyance. Couldn't he read the fucking room? Obviously not, because the coach continued in the same relaxed tone, "But it's never a bad thing to have options and with our own master setter graduating this year, it would be nice to have options." He leveled his eyes at Oikawa. "A captain has to think about the longevity of the team as well."
Iwaizumi had never wanted to punch an adult before now, but this conversation was making him think that perhaps he wasn't as good a person as he liked to think. Oikawa gulped and nodded, his voice coming out in a surprisingly upbeat tone when he spoke again.
"Of course, you're right. We'll do the best we can!"
They walked through the hall in silence, the sun starting to dip away as the afternoon turned into twilight. They still needed to change and lock up before heading home, but Iwaizumi was having a hard time focusing on anything except for his boyfriend who was deep in thought. He glanced quickly around the hall to double check there was no one to see, then took Oikawa's hand and tugged him into the entryway of the boys bathroom.
"How scandalous, Iwa-chan," Oikawa teased, a smirk twitching at the corner of his lip, even as a surprised flush raced across his cheeks.
"Are you okay," Iwaizumi asked.
"Yeah of course," Oikawa hummed, rearranging his fingers so they could comfortably fit with Iwaizumi's.
"Don't lie."
Oikawa pouted, tossing his head slightly to push his hair away from his forehead, even though it fell right back into place. "Why do you ask if you're just going to ignore my answer?"
"I only ignore the stupid answers."
"I'm less than excited and a little hungry," Oikawa replied. He peeked around the corner. Then, tugged Iwaizumi's hand so they were walking again towards the courts. "It just doesn't make any sense."
"What do you mean?"
Oikawa was looking thoughtfully at the ceiling, eyes narrowed as if sifting through information in his mind. "During our practice match, Tobio-chan seemed perfectly content with all of the Karasuno players, especially him that Chibi-chan. They have that absurd quick attack. I asked every player who was at that game. No one mentioned any details that would make me think Tobio-chan was unhappy. Kindaichi told me that at one point he even admitted that he set too high for the shrimp. He knows a first year in the starting line up is rare. With all of that working in his favor, why would he leave Karasuno?"
Iwaizumi used his free pointer finger to jab Oikawa's cheek.
"Iwa-chan," he whined. "That hurt!"
"Your analytical skills can be really creepy to hear out loud, you know that?"
"You asked me what I was thinking!"
"I asked if you are okay," Iwaizumi corrected with a smirk. "Not to hear all the insane ramblings of that crazy volleyball gremlin in your mind."
"Gremlin," huffed Oikawa, tugging his hand as if to pull it away. Iwaizumi only tightened his grip, refusing to let go.
"No, that's mine right now. You can have it back later."
Oikawa pushed his lip out in a pout, though the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. "All I'm saying is Tobio-chan wouldn't transfer unless there was a reason and I'm curious about what it is."
"We can ask him when we recruit him for the club," Iwaizumi offered, opening the door to the locker room.
"Maybe," Oikawa hummed. "If I remember. You know how forgetful I can be."
"I've never described you as forgetful," Iwaizumi countered, releasing his hand in order to change. His stomach growled loudly.
"I am very forgetful. I forgot my pen this morning and last week I forgot the money I owed Makki," Oikawa said, changing out of his jersey and tossing it into his bag to be washed. "I may forget to ask Tobio-chan anything next week."
"Your personality is so trashy, Oikawa," Iwaizumi sighed.
A/N: This is unofficially dedicated to my friend who discussed this idea with me innocently, not realizing that my brain was not going to let a perfectly good plotline go without becoming borderline obsessed with it. So here were are. Thanks Coco for continuing to feed my time in IwaOi hell. Hope you enjoyed this set up chpt. Feel free to review. More to come!